Relative clauses allow you to provide more information about a noun without starting a new sentence. In this guide, we’ll explore what relative clauses are, how to use them, and provide plenty of examples and exercises to help you practise. Let’s begin!

What Are Relative Clauses?

A relative clause is a part of a sentence that describes a noun (the antecedent) and starts with a relative pronoun or adverb. It provides additional information about the noun, helping to define or identify it more precisely.

Examples:

• The book that you lent me was fascinating.
• She is the teacher who inspired me the most.

In these sentences, the relative clauses “that you lent me” and “who inspired me the most” give more information about “the book” and “the teacher” respectively.

Why Use Relative Clauses?

Relative clauses are used to:

• Add detail: Provide more information about a noun without starting a new sentence.
• Combine sentences: Merge two sentences into one, making your writing smoother.
• Clarify meaning: Specify which person or thing you are talking about.

Using relative clauses helps make your speech and writing more fluent and natural.

Types of Relative Clauses

There are two main types of relative clauses:

1. Defining Relative Clauses

A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun. It defines or identifies the noun precisely.

Example:

• The woman who lives next door is a doctor.

Without the relative clause, we wouldn’t know which woman is being referred to.

2. Non-Defining Relative Clauses

A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about the noun, but it’s not essential for understanding the main point of the sentence. It is usually separated by commas.

Example:

• My brother, who lives in Australia, is coming to visit.

Even without the relative clause, the sentence “My brother is coming to visit” still makes sense.

Relative Pronouns and Adverbs

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses and refer to nouns mentioned previously.

Common Relative Pronouns:

• Who: Refers to people.
• Whom: Formal; refers to people as the object of the verb.
• Whose: Shows possession.
• Which: Refers to animals and things.
• That: Refers to people, animals, and things in defining relative clauses.

Examples:

• She is the artist who painted this picture.
• The man whom you met yesterday is my uncle.
• They found the dog whose owner was lost.
• This is the car which I bought last year.
• I like the book that you recommended.

Relative Adverbs

Relative adverbs also introduce relative clauses and modify the verb.

Common Relative Adverbs:

• When: Refers to time.
• Where: Refers to place.
• Why: Refers to reason.

Examples:

• I remember the day when we first met.
• This is the place where I grew up.
• Do you know the reason why she left early?

How to Use Relative Clauses

Combining Sentences

Relative clauses are often used to combine two sentences into one.

Example:

• I met a girl. She is a famous singer.

Combined:

• I met a girl who is a famous singer.

Omitting the Relative Pronoun

In defining relative clauses, you can sometimes omit the relative pronoun when it is the object of the clause.

Example:

• The book that I read was exciting.

You can omit “that”:

• The book I read was exciting.

Note: You cannot omit the relative pronoun if it is the subject of the clause.

Incorrect Omission:

• The man who is standing over there is my teacher. → The man is standing over there is my teacher. (Incorrect)

Punctuation with Relative Clauses

• Defining Relative Clauses: No commas are used.

  Example:

  • Students who study hard get good grades.
• Non-Defining Relative Clauses: Use commas to separate the clause.

  Example:

  • My sister, who is a lawyer, lives in London.

Examples of Relative Clauses

• The house that Jack built is old.
• She is the person whom I trust the most.
• They visited the museum where the exhibition is held.
• We went to the café which was recommended.
• He couldn’t remember the time when he last saw her.
• The teacher whose class I enjoy is absent today.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Using the Wrong Relative Pronoun

Mistake:

• She is the woman which works here.

Correction:

• She is the woman who works here.

Explanation: Use “who” for people.

Omitting the Relative Pronoun Incorrectly

Mistake:

• The man who lives next door is a doctor. → The man lives next door is a doctor. (Incorrect)

Correction:

• The man who lives next door is a doctor.

Explanation: Do not omit the relative pronoun when it is the subject of the clause.

Confusing “Whose” and “Who’s”

Mistake:

• The girl who’s bike was stolen is sad.

Correction:

• The girl whose bike was stolen is sad.

Explanation: “Whose” shows possession; “who’s” is a contraction of “who is”.

Misplacing Commas

Mistake:

• My friend who lives in Spain is visiting. (Incorrect if you have multiple friends)

Correction:

• My friend, who lives in Spain, is visiting. (If you have only one friend)

Explanation: Use commas for non-defining clauses.

Using “That” in Non-Defining Clauses

Mistake:

• My car, that I bought last year, is already broken.

Correction:

• My car, which I bought last year, is already broken.

Explanation: Do not use “that” in non-defining relative clauses; use “which”.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Relative Pronoun

Select the correct relative pronoun to complete each sentence.

1. The book ___ I borrowed was fascinating.
   • (who / which / whose)
2. She is the woman ___ helped me yesterday.
   • (which / whom / who)
3. That’s the man ___ dog bit me.
   • (whose / who’s / whom)
4. The place ___ we met is closed now.
   • (where / when / which)
5. Do you remember the time ___ we got lost?
   • (when / where / that)
6. The musician ___ music I love is performing tonight.
   • (which / whose / who)
7. The film ___ we watched was exciting.
   • (who / that / where)
8. The teacher ___ class I attend is on holiday.
   • (whose / who’s / whom)
9. This is the reason ___ I came.
   • (why / which / when)
10. The student ___ you spoke to is my friend.
    • (which / whom / whose)

Exercise 2: Combine the Sentences

Combine the following pairs of sentences using relative clauses.

1. I met a girl. She is from France.
2. This is the book. I told you about it.
3. The man is my uncle. You saw him yesterday.
4. She has a car. The car is very fast.
5. They live in a house. The house is by the sea.
6. The woman is a doctor. Her son is my friend.
7. I remember the day. We first met then.
8. That’s the café. I like to go there.
9. He doesn’t know the reason. She left for that reason.
10. The city was beautiful. We visited it last summer.

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

1. The woman which lives next door is a teacher.
2. This is the dog who bit me.
3. The car, that is red, is mine.
4. The man whose you met is my brother.
5. She is the girl who’s father is a musician.
6. That’s the reason that I came.
7. I like the people which are friendly.
8. The house where I was born in is old.
9. Do you know the man whom is talking to her?
10. The book, which you gave me it, is interesting.

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

Create sentences using relative clauses based on the prompts.

1. (The teacher / teach me English / is very kind)
2. (This is the park / we played / as children)
3. (She met a man / his brother is a pilot)
4. (I remember the day / I graduated)
5. (They bought a house / needs renovation)
6. (The movie / we saw last night / was exciting)
7. (He doesn’t know the reason / she is upset)
8. (The woman / you spoke to / is my aunt)
9. (That’s the café / serves the best coffee)
10. (The book / cover is blue / is mine)

Answers

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Relative Pronoun

1. The book which I borrowed was fascinating.
2. She is the woman who helped me yesterday.
3. That’s the man whose dog bit me.
4. The place where we met is closed now.
5. Do you remember the time when we got lost?
6. The musician whose music I love is performing tonight.
7. The film that we watched was exciting.
8. The teacher whose class I attend is on holiday.
9. This is the reason why I came.
10. The student whom you spoke to is my friend.

Exercise 2: Combine the Sentences

1. I met a girl who is from France.
2. This is the book which I told you about.
3. The man whom you saw yesterday is my uncle.
4. She has a car which is very fast.
5. They live in a house that is by the sea.
6. The woman whose son is my friend is a doctor.
7. I remember the day when we first met.
8. That’s the café where I like to go.
9. He doesn’t know the reason why she left.
10. The city which we visited last summer was beautiful.

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

1. The woman who lives next door is a teacher.
2. This is the dog which bit me.
3. The car, which is red, is mine.
4. The man whom you met is my brother.
5. She is the girl whose father is a musician.
6. That’s the reason why I came. (Or “That’s the reason I came.”)
7. I like the people who are friendly.
8. The house where I was born is old. (Or “The house in which I was born is old.”)
9. Do you know the man who is talking to her?
10. The book which you gave me is interesting.

Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences

1. The teacher who teaches me English is very kind.
2. This is the park where we played as children.
3. She met a man whose brother is a pilot.
4. I remember the day when I graduated.
5. They bought a house which needs renovation.
6. The movie that we saw last night was exciting.
7. He doesn’t know the reason why she is upset.
8. The woman whom you spoke to is my aunt.
9. That’s the café which serves the best coffee.
10. The book whose cover is blue is mine.

Conclusion

Understanding and using relative clauses is a vital part of mastering English grammar. They allow you to add detail and complexity to your sentences, making your communication clearer and more precise. Remember:

• Use relative pronouns like “who”, “which”, “that”, “whose”, “whom”, “where”, “when”, and “why” to introduce relative clauses.
• Distinguish between defining and non-defining relative clauses and punctuate them correctly.
• Be careful with common mistakes, such as using the wrong relative pronoun or misplacing commas.

Keep practising with the exercises provided, and try creating your own sentences to improve your understanding.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or if you’d like to share your own sentences using relative clauses, please leave a comment below. Happy learning!